First Plebe to Parent letter

Since I-Day, we have been having USNA nightmares. DD, normally tough and stoic, was tearful at drop off and after her Oath ("What have I done?", "I want to come home with you." etc.). Each day, we have been expecting a phone call that she wants to process out. However, today we were elated to receive DD's first letter home and learn that things are tough but she's glad she's there.

Some points to share with parents still awaiting their own letter: detailers have yelled themselves hoarse, which is somewhat funny to the Plebes; a few Plebes have passed out and several have thrown up, but they are given good attention and allowed rest as needed; plebes (at least in her company) are supportive of each other and those struggling in PEP aren't judged or given a hard time. All around, DD is "healthy" and "happy" enough. There's still a long way to go, but hopefully this bodes well for her future.

We will be praying for all anxious Plebe parents to get equally soothing letters soon

Since I-Day, we have been having USNA nightmares. DD, normally tough and stoic, was tearful at drop off and after her Oath ("What have I done?", "I want to come home with you." etc.). Each day, we have been expecting a phone call that she wants to process out. However, today we were elated to receive DD's first letter home and learn that things are tough but she's glad she's there.

Some points to share with parents still awaiting their own letter: detailers have yelled themselves hoarse, which is somewhat funny to the Plebes; a few Plebes have passed out and several have thrown up, but they are given good attention and allowed rest as needed; plebes (at least in her company) are supportive of each other and those struggling in PEP aren't judged or given a hard time. All around, DD is "healthy" and "happy" enough. There's still a long way to go, but hopefully this bodes well for her future.

We will be praying for all anxious Plebe parents to get equally soothing letters soon

Those kids are tough or they would not be there. It is a change if they have lived at home through high school and never in a on your own environment. As has been posted on other threads Cadre is just as nervous during Plebe Summer. Find a NAPS in your Company and best a NAPS or prior service roommate and listen. Good Luck Class of 2020.

Received letter today but didn't sound too positive He said this place sucks, but his company is much nicer than others, don't know what to make of his letter. DS is not much of a talker or writer. I assume he will adjust & not want to leave?

It's normal. Don't be too alarmed over it. It's the one place they have to vent their fears. By Sunday and his call home it might be different. Be encouraging, positive,etc. Let them talk. If they get negative, turn it around and tell him to tell you about the positives they have done. Ask when the next big event is. Plebes learn to break up the summer from Sunday to Sunday and big even to big event. Plebe Summer is hard to put into words and why so many of us grads tell appointees to stop freaking out over prepping for it except getting in shape. You can't prep for the lack of sleep, stress, heat, pressure, etc. With Plebe Summer starting on Thursday they really had 2 days before they hit their first Sunday and July 4th. That means the rest of this week was not fun. He will be fine.

Received a positive letter in CT yesterday, but of course, that was written just 3 days in! Biggest surprise for us is that he told us he auditioned for the Drum and Bugle Corp -- he didn't want to (and didn't) bring his trumpet! If he makes it, I'm hoping that he can do that and play his sport and that they won't conflict.

He asked for Gold Bond, but thanks to tip from this forum...I had already put that and Body Glide in the mail!

Received a positive letter in CT yesterday, but of course, that was written just 3 days in! Biggest surprise for us is that he told us he auditioned for the Drum and Bugle Corp -- he didn't want to (and didn't) bring his trumpet! If he makes it, I'm hoping that he can do that and play his sport and that they won't conflict.

He asked for Gold Bond, but thanks to tip from this forum...I had already put that and Body Glide in the mail!

Same thing pretty much. Got a letter dated 3 July. Generally very positive. DS said they had plenty to eat which is critical to 18 - 22 years olds under stress. Looking forward to the phone call tomorrow for sure!

Like Hoops said, you're their parents and they'll vent to you before anyone else. Also remember that most of these letters are written right before Blue & Gold at the end of a long, long day (or, after lights out, but don't tell the detailers). They are not just tired, they're WIPED, physically and a lot of times, emotionally. And although they are technically adults, they're still kids in that they don't yet have the life experience to counter the "I don't know if I can do this" little voice. Reassure, reassure, reassure! Strengthen, bolster, make them laugh, love the stuffing out of them - you know your kids! Send pictures of the dog snoozing, the cat standing on the keyboard (as usual), dad reclining with a beer after cutting the grass, mom after her run (she hates her frizzy hair), the bratty middle school brother you know they adore anyway, their best buds vogue-ing for the cam. Send them comics and news. Send the hometown newspaper gossip column/hotline column - those are a hoot and can actually give your plebe some working material for mealtimes! And absolutely don't read anything into or out of whatever is in the letters you do get. Every letter is 5 minutes they could have spent prepping tomorrow's uniform or cleaning the room or shower or head or getting the laundry ready or reading Bluejackets. It'll get better!

We finally got our letter today out here in the sticks. It was very positive. Ds says that the detailers were not too bad relatively speaking. He said the guys from NAPS keep telling them how easy they have it. He said they were very very busy and not to count on him writing except on Sundays. Then he said he was beginning to get into the groove of things and that his room mates were "righteous dudes" and they "had each other's backs" . He finally said most of his company was great but a few needed to "suck it up". I think he is going to be Ok.

Sounds like he is doing well and has figured things or quickly. NAPS guys are great to have around. Some forget to put NAPS behind and start to isolate themselves during the AC year. The thing the NAPS guys haven't experienced... A Plebe Year. NAPS indoc is about 3 weeks long. Mids from USNA lead it. Once that ended they were left pretty much alone. The Plebes don't realize this now, but the AC year is very long and much harder than Plebe Summer in a totally different way. Hope the phone calls all go well tomorrow!